FIFA has rejected what it describes as a concerted effort to undermine President Gianni Infantino and interfere with the organisation’s presidential election process.
In a statement released on August 8, FIFA said it would not support, facilitate, or tolerate any process concerning the election of its president that violates its Statutes, democratic procedures, or governance framework.
The statement comes amid growing calls from high profile football stakeholders for Infantino to step down, with critics questioning his leadership and calling for a change at the top of world football.
FIFA, however, insists that Infantino retains the democratic mandate of its 211 Member Associations, which elected him to lead the organisation.
“Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes,” FIFA said.
The world governing body also accused some individuals of attempting to weaken the organisation through what it described as unsubstantiated allegations, speculation, and misinformation about Infantino and FIFA.
“Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President,” the statement added.
“Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.”
FIFA also defended Infantino’s record, pointing to his more than 30 years of involvement in European and world football and his contribution to expanding access, resources, and opportunities across the game. The organisation acknowledged that his reform agenda has created disagreements with established interests but said such disagreements should not be used to undermine his mandate or FIFA itself.
“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s President or the institution he was elected to lead,” FIFA said.
FIFA said it welcomes legitimate scrutiny but warned against what it considers attempts to distort facts or amplify unsubstantiated allegations.
“Scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress,” it said.
The governing body added that it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reporting “directly and vigorously”. FIFA’s position echoes recent statements from the Confederation of African Football and CONMEBOL, both of which have expressed support for Infantino.
Despite the criticism of his leadership, several football stakeholders and confederations have also backed the FIFA president. FIFA said its focus remains on its 211 Member Associations and the continued global development of the game.
“We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global,” FIFA said.
